Agriculture

In 2007-08 South-east Asia was hit by an unprecedented shortage of staple food products. A number of factors have been blamed for this event, including droughts, a surge in costs, low stockpiles, increasing demand from growing middle-class populations and speculation over commodity prices. In response, the governments of many countries in the region embarked on efforts to ensure that they would not be caught out by food shortages again. Brunei Darussalam was no exception to this, with the Sultanate moving quickly to priorities food security and increased self-sufficiency as key aims of its economic development plans. Since then, agriculture and fisheries, agri-business, aquaculture, and food research and development (R&D) have all been prioritized, with impressive results in some sub sectors. At the same time, Brunei Darussalam has also been working to make a name for itself globally as a key halal food center, bringing a rigorous examination and certification program to the international halal table. This chapter contains an interview with Dato Ali Apong, Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism.